Zambia hosted the summit for KaZa, the transboundary conservation area of Kavango-Zambezi, established in 2011 to integrate several national parks across Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Namibia. Representatives from all five countries gathered to discuss pressing issues, with a significant focus on the persistent drought in Southern Africa that threatens wildlife.
The Kavango-Zambezi area is home to 227,000 elephants, making Southern Africa the region with the world’s largest elephant population. However, last year, several hundred elephants perished due to drought conditions.
The primary cause is the dwindling water and food reserves. From August to December 2023, Zimbabwe’s Natural Parks Management Agency reported at least 160 elephants died from starvation. An expert from the International Fund for Animal Welfare also highlighted the threat of fires destroying available food sources.
As a result of these conditions, conflicts between local residents and wildlife have increased. Researcher Joshua Matanzima noted that the decreasing water levels of Lake Kariba, located between Zambia and Zimbabwe, force elephants to seek water closer to the fishing villages along the lake’s shores. Consequently, Zimbabwe recorded 50 human fatalities from elephant attacks in 2023.
The summit’s agenda included discussions on elephant protection and enhancing the resilience of communities in the face of climate change. The outcomes of these discussions are crucial for developing strategies to mitigate the impacts of drought and ensure the coexistence of humans and wildlife in the Kavango-Zambezi region.